Lap-switch.



' Patented Apr. 2, l90l.

F. L. DARWIN & H. BARBER.

LAP swncn. (Application filed'sept. 11, 1900.) 2 sheets sheet I 1 N INVENTOR$ WITNESSES: g 53 XV 49 a. (I? 7 Affomey n'nc WASHINGTON. g. c

nu: NORR s PETERS cu wow no; 671,310. Patented Apr. 2, I901.

F. L. oanwma H. BARBER.

LAP SWITCH.

' (Application filed. Sept. 11, 1900.;

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

uiliiTg l FRANK L. DARWIN AND HARRY BARBER, OF LOST SPRINGS, KANSAS, AS-

SIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SAID DARYVIN, AND FRED BURNISON, S. C. BYBEE, OSCAR ROSS, JOHN BURNISON, ISAAC M. JACKSON, AND GUSTAF WILLIAM HANSON, OF MARQ UETTE, KANSAS.

LAP-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION formingpart Of Letters Patent No. 671,310, dated April 2, 1901. Application filed September 11, 1900. Serial No. 29,719. (No model.)

170 (I/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK L. DARWIN and HARRY BARBER, citizens of the United States, residing at Lost Springs, in the county of Marion and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap- Switches; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled IO in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches, and especially to the provision of a frogless switch having lapping switch-points designed to be swung over the rails, allowing the flanged Wheels to pass over the top of the main-track rails when the switch is set to allow cars to pass upon a siding, suitable means being provided to throw simultaneously the switch-points against or away from the main rails.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists, further, in the novel construction, combination, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and then specific- 0 ally defined in the appended claims.

Our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which 5 Figure l is a plan view of the switch, showing the switch-rails thrown against and over the main-track rails. Fig. 2 is a view showing the switch open, the switch-points being thrown away from the main-track rails. Fig.

3 is a vertical sectional view through the switch-stand, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the mechanism for throwing the switches.

Reference now being had to the details of 5 the drawings by letter, A and A designate the rails of the main tracks, and B designate the rails of one of the switch-tracks, which rails are diagonally disposed between the main tracks, and to the end of one of said rails 13 is pivoted a rail-point C, which is Wedge-shaped, and its free tapering end is designed to be thrown against the inner face of one of the rails A when the switch is set and to be thrown away from the rail A when the switch is open. One of the rails B, which is located between the main-track rails, has its end bent and is disposed in a fixed position arallel with the line of rails A and adjacent thereto, a sufficient space intervening to allow the flanges of the car-wheels to pass through without interference. This bent portion is preferably out down upon its upper face, as seen at B The adjacent rail of the siding on the outside of the main tracks is held to the cross-ties by means of a grooved plate D, which embraces the flanges of the rail, and pivoted to said plate is a grooved plate D, which embraces and securely holds one end of the overlapping switch-railE. The ends of the rails held by said plates raise their adjacent ends slightly above the main-track rails, so as to allow the flanges of the wheels of the cars to pass freely over the upper faces of the main rails without contact therewith. Said overlapping switch-rail E is longitudinally grooved, as at E, and on the lower margin of said groove is a tapering flange e, the tapering portion of the flange being outward toward its free end, and a second flange F of the rail tapers in the opposite direction toward the pivotal point of the switch-rail and has a rib F along its upper face along its inner side or edge. The upper face of this rib projects above the upper face of the flange, of which it is an integral part, a sufficient distance to be in the same plane with the upper faces of the rails adjacent to the ends of said switch-rail. At the free end of said switch-rail E the rib which projects beyond the end of the rail is beveled diago- 9o nally, as seen at G, said diagonal end being designed to contact with the beveled end of the rail B when the switch is set, and when the switch is in this position the under face of the flange F will rest upon the upper face 5 of the reduced and bent end of the rail B of the siding. In this position the flange e will contact with the web of the main-track rail and its upper edge will bear against the under surface of the upper flaring portion of the main rail.

The outer track of the siding made up of the rails G has pivoted to its rail which is nearest the main rails an overlapping switchrail H, which has the two right angled flanges H and H2, the former of which is designed to pass over the top of the main rail,

while the under one contacts with the web of the main rail when the switch is set. Connecting the switch-rail H with the rail-point (J is a bar K, which is fastened to the lower flanged parts of said switch rail and point by means of the clamps K.

The switch-stand L, which is mounted on the projecting tie M, has a plate L, whichis centrally apertured, through which passes the switch-rod N, to which is keyed a wheel 0, whereby the rod may be rotated. To the lower end of the switch-rod is keyed a gearwheel P, having a series of teeth on its under face adjacent to its circumference. A yoke or stirrup Q, having its ends fastened to the opposite faces of the tie on which the switchstand is mounted, extends below said tie, and in an aperture in said stirrup is journaled one end of the rod R,which carries, keyed thereto, a gear-wheel R, which is in mesh with the teeth of the gear-wheel P. Secured to the switch-rod at any suitable location is an arm J, to the end of whichds pivoted one end of the bar S, the other end of which bar is pivoted to the bar K,whereby as the switch-rod is rocked the switch-rails may be thrown toward the 1nain-track rails or away therefrom. The opposite end of the rod R carries agearwheel R which rotates in a vertical plane and has a series of teeth about its outer face about its marginal edge. The end of the rod on which said wheel R is mounted is journaled in an aperture 0" in the bracket T, and a stub-shaft Y, vertically journaled in said bracket, has a gear-wheel Y, which is in mesh with the teeth of the gear-wheel R Secured to the stub-shaft Y is an arm Y to the end of which is pivoted one end of the bar W, the other end of which bar is pivoted to the lug on the edge of the overlapping switch-rail E.

The operation of ourinvention will be readily understood. By simply rocking the switchrod the switch point and rails will be simultaneously thrown against or away from the main tracks, accordingly as it is desired to set or open the switch.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Alap-switch comprising in combination with the main-track rails the fixed sidingrails, the switch-point rail and lap1'ails pivoted to the ends of the siding-rails, the bar connecting said lap and point rails, a vertically-disposed rocking switch-rod, an operating-wheel keyed thereto, a standard in which said rod turns, a gear-wheel keyed to its lower end, an arm fastened at one end to said rod, and a link connecting the end of said arm with the end of the bar connecting the lap and point rails, a stirrup underneath said switch-stand a horizontally-disposed rod having one end journaled in an aperturein said stirrup, a gear-wheel keyed to the end of said rod, and meshing with said gear-wheel at the bottom of the switch-rod, a second lay-rail and gear-and-lever connections between same and said horizontal rod,whereby as the switchrod is rocked, the switch-rails are moved simultaneously, as set forth.

2. In combination with the pivoted switch lap-rails the switch-stand, the verticallymounted switch rod the operating wheel keyed thereto, the gear-wheel at the lower end of the switch-rod, the stirrup underneath said stand, the horizontally-mounted rod havinga bearing in an aperture in said stirrup, a bracket in which the opposite end of said horizontal rod has a bearing, a gear-wheel ateach end of said rod, a vertically-disposed stub-- shaft mounted in said bracket, a gear-wheel on said shaft, and the pivotal link-and-crank connections between the vertical switch-rod and stub-shafts and said switch-rails, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. DARWIN. HARRY BARBER. Witnesses:

J. P. ERVIN, P. D. HOWE. 

